Over the past half-decade, bookstores have been making a bit of a comeback.
As we were all stuck at home and looking for a mental escape during the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020, reading reestablished some of its lost foothold within pop culture. Online communities like BookTok and Bookstagram caught fire, steering readers toward romantasy titles and classic literature alike. And that’s much-needed: With overall literacy rates alarmingly low and anti-intellectualism rearing its ugly head, it’s a crucial time to cultivate new readers.
Unlike their impersonal big-box counterparts, independent bookstores have been thriving as of late. They provide a sense of community with physical spaces where people can gather to admire, discuss, buy, sell and trade books. Whether you’re a peruser who enjoys the classic bookstore vibe or a full-on physical media collector, Nashville has plenty of great independent spots for you to check out.
Any roundup of interesting local spots has to begin in East Nashville, which has a high concentration of bookstores worth visiting — including the thoughtfully curated The Bookshop, romance-focused former “smut truck” Slow Burn, LGBTQ-focused Novelette Booksellers, hip book-hunters’ paradise The Green Ray, kid-friendly Fairytales Bookstore, tiny but mighty East Nashville Books, hardcore collectors’ choice Defunct Books and new kid on the block Shook About Books.
In Marathon Village, you’ll find the micro book and art outpost Taylor Street Art and Books. Head to West Nashville for the long-standing and beloved Rhino Booksellers, and while you’re on the West Side, make the pilgrimage to physical media mecca McKay’s, where you’ll find … just about anything, from video games and musical instruments to vinyl, books and more. And those who know their way around Old Hickory can attest to the cozy vibes of Duckbill Bookshop.
Music City’s longtime Black-owned bookstore, Alkebu-Lan Images, offers a unique assortment of books, gifts, jewelry and more as a cultural center in North Nashville. (Alkebu-Lan will celebrate its 40th anniversary on April 1 with a block party featuring music, food, drinks and more. Details here.) The city’s unofficial reading ambassador Ann Patchett owns Green Hills’ Parnassus Books, which always has a calendar full of notable author events and book club meetups.
Folks in the ’burbs have exciting options too. Landmark Booksellers in downtown Franklin, Honey Rock Books and Cafe in Gallatin, The Spine Bookshop in Smyrna, Crying Cat Books and Records in Murfreesboro, Harper’s Books in Lebanon, City Square Books and Music in Hendersonville and Duck River Books in Columbia are just some of the top-notch locations outside of Davidson County proper.
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